Several Studies Say Fish Oil an Important Dietary Supplement for Diabetics

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Read on to discover why supplementing with fish oil is important for you, but even more so if you are diabetic.

Why You Want To Supplement with Fish Oil

Simply stated, Omega-3 consumption is directly linked to the reduction of triglycerides and therefore a decrease in risk for developing coronary heart disease.

Being that diabetics have an increased risk of heart disease from elevated levels of triglycerides, this is most important for those individuals, but is still important for the rest of us. Fortunately I am not diabetic yet, although I am annoyingly insulin resistant. Hopefully I will never develop type II diabetes.

::knocks on wood::

In accordance with some concerns, a recent study shows us that fish oil does increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, while also lowering triglycerides. Those studies show that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are also increased, resulting in a zero change to the ever important ratio of LDL/HDL.

In another study, a significant reduction in the levels of very-low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides and very-low-density triglycerides was observed.

In a third study, the average (mean) systolic blood pressure had dropped by 4.4 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure by 3.2 mm Hg in a group consuming fish oil. The average blood pressure in the control group did not change.

The researchers also found that plasma triglyceride and VLDL levels in the fish oil group decreased significantly (by about 9 per cent) while they increased significantly (by about 12 per cent) in the control group.

An editorial accompanying this third study concluded that fish oil is useful in the prevention of vascular disease in diabetics.

Patients with diabetes should eat fish two to three times a week or, as an alternative, supplement with two to three, 1 gram capsules of fish oil per day.

Click here to get up to 2 free bottles of high quality Omega 3-6-9 Fish Oil.

Conclusion

We can therefore conclude that fish oil supplementation is effective in lowering triglyceride levels and blood pressure in diabetics, and has no adverse effects on glycemic control or overall cholesterol levels. Furthermore, a dosage as small as 3 grams per day of fish oil is enough to realize the benefits of Omega-3 supplementation.

There are many more studies where those came from.

Resources:

1) Connor, William E. Diabetes, fish oil, and vascular disease. Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 123, No. 12, December 15, 1995, pp. 950-52
2) Luo, Jing, et al. Moderate intake of n-3 fatty acids for 2 months has no detrimental effect on glucose metabolism and could ameliorate the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic men. Diabetes Care, Vol. 21, May 1998, pp. 717-24
3) Morgan, Wanda A., et al. A comparison of fish oil or corn oil supplements in hyperlipidemic subjects with NIDDM. Diabetes Care, Vol. 18, January 1995, pp. 83-86
4) Toft, Ingrid, et al. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on glucose homeostasis and blood pressure in essential hypertension. Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 123, No. 12, December 15, 1995, pp. 911- 18

Fish Oil is Also Good for Babies and Kids

In a recent report on the effects of fish oil in preventing type 1 diabetes in newborns, one study group consisted of children between birth and 8 years of age who had strong family history of type 1 diabetes.

A second group consisted of newborns who tested positive for genetic markers of susceptibility.

The association between intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the incidence of pancreatic islet autoimmunity (IA) was examined, and it was found that a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of IA in the group identified by family history.

For the newborn group, the risk of IA was inversely associated with the omega-3 status assessed by a blood test. These associations were relatively strong and statistically significant.

The authors comment that that omega-3 fatty acids could become a mainstay to safely prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in high risk children.

Resources:

1) Norris, J.M. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Islet Autoimmunity in Children at Increased Risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2007, Vol. 298, No. 12, pp. 1420-28

Based on these findings, you can make your own decision on whether or not to supplement with fish oil.

Click here to get up to 2 free bottles of high quality Omega 3-6-9 Fish Oil.

Do you have any positive experiences with fish oil use? If so, are you diabetic? Leave a comment and let us know.

Tags: Contests, diabetes, fish oil, giveaway, Medical, omega 3

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